Adamsdown Liberal Democrat Focus Team

Local news around the Adamsdown ward, Cardiff, UK - from Lib Dem Councillors Nigel Howells and John Dixon

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Last lap on road to pensions justice for ASW workers

Today the Judge in the High Court battle over the Occupational Pensions saga ruled that the Government must go back and look again at whether it should offer compensation to almost 1,000 former ASW workers and over 100,000 others who were left with little or no pension after their companies went bust.

Commenting, Jenny Willott, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Cardiff Central and member of the Public Administration Select Committee, said: “This is fantastic news. The ASW workers' fight for justice has been a long slog taking them to Westminster, Brussels and now to the High Court, and they have proved their case every single time.

“The Government has been a lonely stubborn voice refusing to agree, desperately trying to derail the process at every turn and mislead people even further in this whole sordid affair.

“The Government must accept that there is no wriggle room left for them and arrange for proper compensation for all those who have lost their hard earned pensions through no fault of their own.

“If the Government refuses to act now, Parliament must respond by amending the Pensions Bill going through Parliament so that justice is done for ASW workers and the many others who are still suffering."

Members of Cardiff Council’s Liberal Democrat executive are furious at a last minute announcement by the Labour Assembly Government that the council will be provided with £1.523 million less funding than had been anticipated for the coming financial year.

The news has come after the council’s executive has already agreed on budget proposals to recommend to the full council for endorsement this week based on the assumption that the council would receive £3.4 million of funding under the Local Authority Business Growth Incentive (LABGI) scheme, a grant given to local authorities since 2004 to encourage them to promote the development of new businesses.

However, the Assembly Government has now advised Cardiff Council that there will be significantly less money available in the LABGI scheme for Welsh local authorities in 2007–08, meaning that the city will receive only £1.877 million. This means the council’s executive is now being forced to cut £1.523 million from its budget proposals.

Council leader Rodney Berman said: “This is a shambolic way to manage public finances. Not for the first time, the council’s budget proposals are facing uncertainty because of what appear to be last minute political shenanigans coming from the Labour Assembly Government.

“Both the First Minister and the Finance Minister represent Cardiff constituencies and, yet again, they are letting Cardiff people down by forcing swingeing cuts upon us. These cuts will inevitably lead to poorly-funded services for their own electors.”

Executive member for economic development and finance, Mark Stephens, added: “Once again the Labour party is treating the capital city with contempt. We know that they have lost control of their own finances, with the Labour Assembly Government having recently announced it has under spent on its own budget in the current financial year by around £67.5 million.

“Labour should now use some of these unspent millions to plug the gap in the money they are taking away from Cardiff . I call upon Sue Essex to make an urgent announcement to say that she will put this right and not leave her own constituents short-changed to the tune of £1.5 million.”

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Adamsdown Community Garden

The following events have been arranged by the Adamsdown Community Project:

Pancake & PlantingTuesday 20th February5pm to 7pmHow high can you throw a pancake? Celebrate Shrove Tuesday by planting fruit bushes!

Sow into SpringSunday 25th March11am to 3pmLearn how to make your own bird feeder, plant tomatoes, peppers and early salad potatoes.

Both events are at Adamsdown Community Garden, 10G Moira Terrace, Adamsdown. All are welcome, although children must be accompanied by an adult. The garden is now fully disabled accessible. Free refreshments are available at both events. For more information call Beth on 2046 0899.

CCHA work - System Street

We have received notice from Cardiff Community Housing Association (CCHA) that work will commence this month on the demolition and rebuilding of 58 System Street.The work will take approximately 8 months to complete.

The building contractors who will be carrying out the work are:Tony G Harris Building Contractors Limited8 GreenlawnsCardiffCF2 6AWTel: 029 2048 2483

If you have any queries regarding the work you should contact Julie Page of CCHA. Julie is supervising the work and can be contacted on 029 2046 8453.